Organized Crime and the New York Mafia

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Gang Rule examines the early development of the Sicilian-American criminal network. It does so through articles, photos and documents illuminating the period of the 1890s–1920s.

GANGS
The Black Hand

The Black Hand

An ethnic phenomenon beginning in 1903, and lasting over fifteen years. The extortion of wealthy Italians in New York City was attributed to ‘La Mano Nera’.

Giuseppe Morello

Mafia: The Morello Gang

The Corleonesi Mafia family led by “boss-of-bosses” Giuseppe Morello. It later divided into what are known today as the Genovese and Lucchese Families.

The Navy Street Gang

NYC Camorra

The Brooklyn Camorra gang was a loose combination of two Neapolitan groups based in Navy Street and in Coney Island’s Santa Lucia Restaurant.

EVENTS
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The Ignatz Florio Co-Operative Association Among Corleonesi

The Ignatz Florio Co-Operative

The failure of Giuseppe Morello’s New York real estate and banking business.

Allesandro Vollero

The Struggle for Control

1910-1918. A long running battle between New York’s gangs to control the city’s lucrative rackets.

New Orleans Mafia

Early Organized Crime

American counterfeiting in the late 1890s was dominated by dangerous Italian-born outlaws that had found a foothold in the US.

The Murder Stables

The Murder Stables

The history of the infamous East 108th Street stables, and the war between the Neapolitan gangs of East Harlem.

Morello and Lupo Trial

The Morello and Lupo Trial

The Secret Service begin to track the Mafia leaders, Lupo and Morello under suspicion of counterfeiting, leading to the pair’s downfall.

Joe Petrosino

Joe Petrosino Murder

Joe Petrosino of the NYPD, who made it his mission to smash the Black Hand & Mafia gangs, is murdered in the line of duty.

BLOG
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Chrystie and Forsyth Streets.

Crime Scene: Black Hand Shooting

NYPD crime scene photos following a suspected Black Hand shooting.

Joseph Valachi

The “Valachi Hearings” Charts

High resolution charts used in the Organized Crime “Valachi Hearings” (1963).

Salvatore Lima

US vs. Salvatore Lima et al.

An extensive Black Hand network was discovered in Ohio following investigations by the US Postal Inspection Service.

GALLERIES
Joe Valachi

Family Charts

Various Mafia Family charts and diagrams.

Mafia photos

Various Images

Various organized crime images.

Mafia mugshots

Mugshots

Various mugshots and crime related photos.

BIOGRAPHIES
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William J. Flynn

William J. Flynn

Chief of New York’s Secret Service Division who hounded early counterfeiting gangs.

Giosue Gallucci

Giosue Gallucci

A powerful, Harlem based, criminal leader who held strong political connections.

Ignazio Lupo

Ignazio Lupo

The Palermitani Mafia leader and brother-in-law of the first US Mafia boss-of-bosses.

Giuseppe Morello

Giuseppe Morello

“Boss-of-bosses” Giuseppe Morello led the Corleonesi crime family in New York.

Giuseppe Masseria

Giuseppe Masseria

Known as “Joe the Boss”, Masseria started his criminal career in a professional burglary gang.

Vincenzo Terranova

Vincenzo Terranova

Coney Island cabaret proprietor and half-brother of boss-of-bosses Giuseppe Morello.